Letters to the Editor, Feb. 16

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 15: Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) speaks at Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's weekly press conference on Capitol Hill on February 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. Pelsoi called on congress to act in the wake of the recent school shooting in Parkland, FL. (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)

Photo: Aaron P. Bernstein, Getty Images

It seems to me that almost everyone in the country is fed up with the continuing slaughter from mass shootings. While national coverage discusses the larger ones, almost every day there are shootings with multiple victims somewhere in the country.

I’m certain that no one, Republican or Democrat, is happy with the status quo, and yet the National Rifle Association still holds so many of our legislators in thrall at both the state and national level that nothing ever gets done on the regulatory front.

Why is it that we the voters cannot get through to our representatives that the status quo is unacceptable? If an active participatory democracy cannot reel in the gun industry, from manufacturers through dealers and distributors, we are in serious trouble. The auto industry has been forced to make safer cars. The aviation industry makes and airlines fly safer planes over safer routes. We regulate alcohol from both the manufacturing and distribution side to limit irresponsible use. We regulate foods and drugs to ensure safe products reach the market and are used responsibly. Why do we give the gun industry a free pass? This must stop!

Gary Harris, Belmont

Repair the wounds

While gun control is critical in the prevention of mass shootings, equally if not more important is understanding what makes the shooters so angry in the first place and what might be done to assuage and/or manage that pain so that it doesn’t turn violent.

Every story I’ve read thus far about Nikolas Cruz skims through the fact that he was adopted and in foster care (why and at what age?) and focuses, but not in enough emotional detail, on the past few months since his mother died.

Hurt people hurt people is a truism. And early life trauma often sets the stage for later problems. Without blaming those who tried to help Cruz and others like him, we need to talk more about what does help hurt and angry young children develop into more compassionate, peaceable adults and provide more of it. And, for that matter, look into what is so attractive about guns (my guess: feelings of powerlessness) and do what is needed to repair the wounds that turn out, in the end, to impact us all.

Sheila Koren, San Francisco

Gun manufacturers

There is a very simple way to slow down gun violence. We need to remove the immunity from lawsuits that Congress granted to gun manufacturers. Why do they have this unique status? We need to hurt them in the pocketbook or nothing will ever change.

Once the manufacturers have to start paying millions in judgments, they will probably stop promoting more gun sales in the U.S. I would not complain if they were sued out of existence. Also, all of the heads of gun manufacturers need to be called before Congress, like the tobacco executives, to answer for the carnage that their products have caused.

William Travis, San Francisco

Same routine

Another mass shooting at a high school, with reports of 17 dead and many others injured. So here’s what we can all now expect to happen next: thoughts and prayers, a moment of silence, flags at half staff, all followed by total inaction from Congress.

Susan Sears, Oroville

It’s past time to act

Two things all school shooters have in common: psychological issues and guns. Well, three, actually: support from a gun culture that no other country in the world shares. Besides those who fail to pursue students and others who have been flagged as dangerous, here’s who else is complicit in the latest tragedies: the National Rifle Association, especially its soulless head Wayne LaPierre, who has so much blood on his hands it’s a wonder he can pick up a weapon.

It’s also the gun dealers and gun manufacturers, who provide most of the NRA’s funding, as well as the president and any member of Congress who accepts money from the NRA and gets an “A” rating for doing its bidding. This includes any NRA member who fails to stand up to leadership and demand sensible gun legislation.

Not only is it time for a national day of mourning for the victims of school shootings, it is time for parents, students and teachers to demonstrate and, if necessary, strike in order to move a callous and cowardly political cabal to act to protect our children.

James Mohan, San Anselmo

Preventable violence

To the National Rifle Association and all state and federal officeholders who support the gun trade over public safety: You have blood on your hands! Shame, shame for providing weapons of mass destruction to be used on our children and citizens. Please do not insult our intelligence with your pious “our hearts and prayers go out to all the families” or the bogus notion that the Second Amendment applies to individual gun use when the founding fathers were clearly referring to state militias.

It is way past time for people in America to stand up and throw the gun supporters out of office. We must stop this preventable bloodbath and stain on our country.

Deanna Spake, Novato

Report on NRA support

“Oh, no, there’s nothing we can do” is always the bottom line after shootings. Other groups hide behind the wording of the Second Amendment. What they’re really hiding behind is what a certain court decided it should mean.

Look: If the majority of the U.S. public supports gun control but action drizzles away after a week or two, let’s get to the source and start publishing how every member of Congress votes on gun control and how much support the National Rifle Association throws at every single member.

Then, citizens will have some meaningful ammo to use on representatives who decide to support the NRA instead of their constituents, and we the public will grow the courage to stand up to the NRA.

John Anderson, San Bruno

Complicit Congress

So, in Florida, and possibly other states, one can buy an AR-15 or a weapon of choice at the age of 18 to commit mass murder, but one cannot legally drink.

What this has to do with a well regulated militia and the protection of our people, I’m completely clueless. None of it matters since the National Rifle Association and a completely complicit Congress will do nothing to impede one’s right to a weapon, no matter for what purpose. The Second Amendment is killing our country every day.